If I'm not mistaken, over the years, its been Philip that has run the Sandringham estate. Not sure about the others. I know I've read that Philip would be at Sandringham every now and then to deal with matters.

Charles basically will do everything his mother has done as far as being a monarch. When we think about it, he does a lot of that already. One thing I know will be a given is that Charles will continue on with the traditional summer months at Balmoral. Its his favorite place on earth to be.

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“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
― John Lennon

I would hope when Charles comes to the throne, we will see his family become more of a working family unite. Currently, we don't see The Queen and Philip work with Charles and Camilla all that much. I would like to see The King, Princess Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales work together more often.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

IF it is to be a 'slimmer unit', that has to be unlikely.. They will need to cover the same ground with fewer people, so grouping up together wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm not saying for them to work together all the time. We know the couples have their own interest, but I would like to see some unity between the monarch and the heir. We see unity between the monarch and heirs with the Swedish, Danish, Spanish and Norwegian royals. There's very little unity between The Queen and Charles. Outside of family events, they hardly come together. There's a lot of distance between the couples.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

That could be because they are working, and have to go to different places and deal with different things. If the queen is doing her things like red boxes and investitures, for example and Charles is doing a tour to say Ireland, they're not going to be togethter. Why should they be?

That could be because they are working, and have to go to different places and deal with different things. If the queen is doing her things like red boxes and investitures, for example and Charles is doing a tour to say Ireland, they're not going to be togethter. Why should they be?

I know they have their own interest and roles to play. So does the other sovereigns and heirs. I just would like to see more family unity between the King, Princess Consort and the Prince & Princess of Wales in the future.

Right now, The Queen and Charles come together for family events and the odd engagement, but it seems like they rather stay out of each other's way when possible. I see little family unity in their duties.

The same can be said about the Wales and Cambridge side. Charles and Camilla, and William and Catherine hardly do anything together. I just see too much distance within the Windsor clan. I hope some of that would change in the next reign.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

I don't think there's a lack of unity between the monarch and the heir at all. If anything, they work closely together behind the scenes. They just realize that they can cover more ground, visit more places and meet and greet more people if everyone goes off in separate directions. This is why they enjoy their "time off" so much and get together as a family then.

We have to remember too that the picture we paint of this family is only from what is shown to us through the photographs and articles from the media. For all we know, Charles could be calling his mother daily and there may be odd occasions where the family gets together at Windsor for Sunday dinner. This stuff wouldn't be made public. This is a very private family unit and I don't see them making a point of being seen together in public as a high priority.

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“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
― John Lennon

I don't think there's a lack of unity between the monarch and the heir at all. If anything, they work closely together behind the scenes. They just realize that they can cover more ground, visit more places and meet and greet more people if everyone goes off in separate directions. This is why they enjoy their "time off" so much and get together as a family then.

We have to remember too that the picture we paint of this family is only from what is shown to us through the photographs and articles from the media. For all we know, Charles could be calling his mother daily and there may be odd occasions where the family gets together at Windsor for Sunday dinner. This stuff wouldn't be made public. This is a very private family unit and I don't see them making a point of being seen together in public as a high priority.

I know they're a close family, but I just would like to see more of a working family unit sometimes.

I completely understand that they cover more ground in their seperate corners, but I just would like to see the Monarch and heir do more things together. I would like to see Charles and Camilla and William and Catherine carry out some engagements together. Do an annual tour of Wales together, tour another part of the country or carry out an annual ceremonial occasion together.

I would like to see Camilla and Catherine do some engagements together from time to time. Here you have two ladies in the most senior positions next to The Queen, but they hardly get together outside of large family events.

I just see nothing wrong in them projecting more of a working family unit sometimes. Much respect that they have their own interests of course.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

I'm not saying for them to work together all the time. We know the couples have their own interest, but I would like to see some unity between the monarch and the heir. We see unity between the monarch and heirs with the Swedish, Danish, Spanish and Norwegian royals. There's very little unity between The Queen and Charles. Outside of family events, they hardly come together. There's a lot of distance between the couples.

The British royal family do as much together (if not more) than the Danish and Norwegian royal families.

The Trooping, State Opening, Garter Service, State Visits, Diplomatic Reception, the Jubilees/birthdays celebrations, and at other events. And for me thats more than enough.

And we see unity between HM and Charles all the time. His Golden Jubilee, 80th birthday, Diamond Jubilee, 90th birthday speeches, several documentary tributes to her and several speeches to her in private.

HM doesn't give interviews, but she praised Charles publicly during his 50th and 60th birthdays (where she also held a speech to him in private)

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The Queen is the most wonderful, forgiving, non judgmental person I know. Sarah Ferguson speaking in 2011.

I feel a bit gloomy about prospects for the British monarchy at the moment, both for Charles's reign and future ones. If Scotland becomes an independent country and Northern Ireland splits away from England and Wales as well, we shall be back to a situation which hasn't been present since King James I came to the throne of England.

I'm not attempting to introduce the contentious subject of Brexit in this thread, just pointing to a likelihood that Charles (and William) is likely to inherit a quite shrunken kingdom and perhaps Commonwealth.

I feel a bit gloomy about prospects for the British monarchy at the moment, both for Charles's reign and future ones. If Scotland becomes an independent country and Northern Ireland splits away from England and Wales as well, we shall be back to a situation which hasn't been present since King James I came to the throne of England.

I'm not attempting to introduce the contentious subject of Brexit in this thread, just pointing to a likelihood that Charles (and William) is likely to inherit a quite shrunken kingdom and perhaps Commonwealth.

Once the queen dies there probably won't be any commonwealth to inherit.

The British royal family do as much together (if not more) than the Danish and Norwegian royal families.

The Trooping, State Opening, Garter Service, State Visits, Diplomatic Reception, the Jubilees/birthdays celebrations, and at other events. And for me thats more than enough.

And we see unity between HM and Charles all the time. His Golden Jubilee, 80th birthday, Diamond Jubilee, 90th birthday speeches, several documentary tributes to her and several speeches to her in private.

HM doesn't give interviews, but she praised Charles publicly during his 50th and 60th birthdays (where she also held a speech to him in private)

Yes, those are ceremonial events that's stretched out throughout the year. I'm talking about I would like to see the family doing more engagements together.

It would be nice to see Camilla and Catherine carry out some engagements together. Also, it would be nice if Charles & Camilla and William and Catherine got together and did some official engagements together.

The Swedish, Danish and Norwegian royals do act more like family unit than the British royals, IMO.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

I think this Brexit business has focused attention on core issues going to the very identity of the UK and Great Britain. Without Scotland there would be no Great Britain, and without Scotland and Northern Ireland there would be no United Kingdom. Though it presently seems unlikely that Northern Ireland would leave the UK, Scotland is a different kettle of fish. And if the main component part of the UK leaves, surely it is also likely that the independently-minded realms would see this as the time to move towards breaking apart and becoming republics. There is a risk that all Charles will inherit is England and Wales and a few realms. The Union Jack would be a thing of the past, and I think the role of the Monarch and the RF would be reduced significantly in its nature and scope, even more than has been speculated about so far.

__________________"That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, -- and call off Christmas!!!"

Yes, those are ceremonial events that's stretched out throughout the year. I'm talking about I would like to see the family doing more engagements together.

It would be nice to see Camilla and Catherine carry out some engagements together. Also, it would be nice if Charles & Camilla and William and Catherine got together and did some official engagements together.

The Swedish, Danish and Norwegian royals do act more like family unit than the British royals, IMO.

I see your point actually. Just like they can go to events with their partner, it would be nice if they did events with other royals. Like in Sweden, the King and Crown princess does engagements together at times. Ofc there are the big royal family events, but I agree that it would be nice to mix up the royal groups at times. I loved when Kate, Camilla and the Queen did a few engagements etc. It doesn't necessarily have to make them less efficent. For example, William and Charles doing an engagement together could be very nice and not more "spreading thin" than if they do an engagement with their partner.

I feel a bit gloomy about prospects for the British monarchy at the moment, both for Charles's reign and future ones. If Scotland becomes an independent country and Northern Ireland splits away from England and Wales as well, we shall be back to a situation which hasn't been present since King James I came to the throne of England.

I'm not attempting to introduce the contentious subject of Brexit in this thread, just pointing to a likelihood that Charles (and William) is likely to inherit a quite shrunken kingdom and perhaps Commonwealth.

i think in the first referendum there was talks about bringing back the jacobite claimant i think that wouldn't work as the direct successor is heir to another throne

I see your point actually. Just like they can go to events with their partner, it would be nice if they did events with other royals. Like in Sweden, the King and Crown princess does engagements together at times. Ofc there are the big royal family events, but I agree that it would be nice to mix up the royal groups at times. I loved when Kate, Camilla and the Queen did a few engagements etc. It doesn't necessarily have to make them less efficent. For example, William and Charles doing an engagement together could be very nice and not more "spreading thin" than if they do an engagement with their partner.

Yeah, that's all I'm talking about. It would be nice to see The Queen, Camilla and Catherine some engagements together. Camilla and Catherine could do some things together. It would also be nice for Charles & Camilla and William & Catherine and even Harry do a family tour in some cities. Come together for a tour of Wales too.

No one is talking about interrupting their roles in different areas, but just become more of a family unit within the firm.

__________________"THE REAL POWER OF A MAN IS IN THE SIZE OF THE SMILE OF THE WOMAN SITTING NEXT TO HIM."

There are other claimants in site, always has been. Ever since the Glorious revolution. And it isn't a stretch to think, that if Scotland gained independence, and continued to be a monarchy (and not go full republic) there would not be those calling for a return to the proper Scottish line. Not saying it would go any where, that the queen would not remain, but the talk would certainly be there. Especially if Charles is king at the time. The reality is there is a Stewart line out there still. Issue being Sophie of Lichtenstein and her son are those heirs. We could see a case where an heir is chosen, like with the throne of Greece, and perhaps one of Sophie's younger children took up the Jacobite claim.

That said I think as long as Scotland remains a monarchy and doesn't go full republic, the Windsors will remain. But I don't think the Jacobite supporters will remain silent either.